I wanted to photograph a wedding. I had no intention of becoming a wedding photographer, being quite content with my family-life photography sessions. But a very close friend has asked me to photograph her wedding in August, and I suddenly realised I needed to get some wedding photography practice under my belt before then. I have been to weddings before... I have had my own wedding... but I don't think anything really could have prepared me for photographing a wedding. I am beyond grateful toMarie Richards Photographerfor allowing me learn from her, and so honoured that Myles and Emma were happy for me to tag along and take photos of their most historical day.

Myles and Emma were set to get dressed and ready for their big day at locations very far apart, so Marie asked me to photograph the groom and groomsmen getting ready while she stuck with the bride and bridesmaids.

I showed up at Myles and Emma's home without ever having met them before. Emma was already somewhere else, and had probably been getting ready for hours. Myles welcomed me in a friendly but distracted way, too focused to worry about me. I told the groomsmen (and groomswoman and page boy... aaand mother and father of the groom) to go ahead and pretend I wasn't there. In the space of time from entering the doorway to leaving for the ceremony, I had learnt a lot about their story, and their love which was reflected in the home they share, and in the closeness of their friends and family and ease in which they expressed their emotions. The hand-made wedding ring box, the puzzle Emma made for Myles with a secret message on the back, the music, the whiskey - it made me feel like this time, at their home, was the most significant part of the day for me, even though it's not part of the day that is usually focussed on. It was the part that was real; the part that came before the show. Oh, and it was HOT... really hot.

The rest of the day was stunning of course, and Emma was a beautiful bride. The ceremony itself was held at the Kumeu Valley Estate, at the end of a meadow under some pine trees - a magical place. The reception was in the cutest building in the most fairytale setting. We left after the bridal party entered for the reception, but I would have loved to stay and join in the festivities. My body probably wouldn't have held together though, even if we had been able to stay. I felt as though I had run a marathon and not eaten for two days.

My aim was to document the candid moments of the day in a way that had substance and meaning. I have always loved a more journalistic style of wedding photography, so wanted to set myself the goal of telling their story with the photos I took. I also felt connected to Myles after hanging out with him before the ceremony, so stuck with him a bit more during the day, rather than taking heaps of photos of Emma who I never really had the chance to meet properly. Marieand second shooter Gemma Flay Photographyworked their magic with all the key ceremony and portrait aspects. I just learnt so much from the day. Here are the photos I took that represent their day through my eyes...